Modification of phospholipid liposomes by electron-dense labels

The method of electron-dense labels has been used to study the localization of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in artificial membranes - liposomes. The electron-dense label was provided by the multinuclear organic-mercury compound - ethanoxyhexamercarbide (EOHM). The possibility of the specific modification of PE by EOHM is shown with use as reagent-mediator of 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine. On electron-microscopic investigation of liposomes consisting only of PE characteristic lamellar structures were found identified from the molecules of PE modified with EOHM. In the case of the liposomes containing in their composition PE and phosphatidylchloine (PC) in a molar ratio of 1:4 cluster distribution of the PE molecules modified with the electron-dense label was observed.